Panelists spoke about the current conflict between Russia and Georgia over separatist regions of Georgia, as well as the potential impact of the conflict on regional security and relations between Russia and former Soviet republics. Topics included Russian strategic goals including ending Georgian sovereignty in South Ossetia and Abkhazia; regime change Tbilisi; preventing Georgia and other countries from joining NATO; and the control of energy infrastructure. They also spoke about the potential creation of a Russian sphere of influence in areas of former Soviet Union. 

Georgian Minister of Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili participated by telephone.